In the grand strategy game Crusader Kings II, the decision to **Mend the Great Schism** stands out as one of the most challenging and rewarding moves a player can attempt. This decision represents the opportunity to heal the division between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity essentially uniting Christendom under one fold. It requires strategic planning, control of key religious seats, high religious authority, and often the right character and empire. For players who enjoy longterm objectives, religious manoeuvring and historical flavour, the Mend the Schism decision delivers a sense of epic achievement and gamechanging consequences.
What Does Mend the Great Schism Mean?
The term Great Schism refers historically to the formal split in 1054 that divided the Christian church into the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East. In Crusader Kings II, the Mend the Great Schism decision is a mechanic added to allow certain Christian rulers to attempt reversing this split and restoring ecclesiastical unity. It is not a simple feature it is essentially one of the end game religious goals that can reshape the religious map of the game. When successfully completed, it grants tremendous religious and political benefits for the empire that accomplished it, but getting there demands careful preparation.
Requirements and Preconditions
In order to access and enact the Mend the Great Schism decision, the player must meet a variety of strict requirements. According to player experience and community documentation, some of the conditions include
- Owning the DLC Legacy of Rome. contentReference[oaicite2]
- Being an adult, independent ruler (not a prisoner or incapable). contentReference[oaicite3]
- Holding the title of Emperor, typically of Byzantium (Eastern Roman Empire) or the restored Roman Empire. contentReference[oaicite4]
- Ruling a Christian religion compatible with the decision (Orthodox, Nestorian, Monothelite or Iconoclast in some cases). contentReference[oaicite5]
- Achieving very high religious authority (often 90 % or more) in your faith. contentReference[oaicite6]
- Controlling the key holy sites of the Pentarchy Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Jerusalem and Antioch. These are required to fulfil the church unity objective. contentReference[oaicite7]
- Accumulating sufficient piety (commonly 2,000 piety or another threshold) before the decision becomes active. contentReference[oaicite8]
Meeting all these criteria does not guarantee instant success; even after fulfilling all requirements, the decision still needs to be executed and then followed through with further events. Players must plan ahead and monitor religious authority, empire stability, and succession issues.
Strategic Considerations for Players
Setting your sights on mending the schism means you are playing towards a monumental goal. Here are key strategic points to keep in mind
Choosing Your Starting Position
To realistically aim for this decision, you should begin your game as or quickly acquire the position of Emperor of Byzantium or establish the Imperial Roman title. Starting in Byzantium gives you access to many of the required holy sites, and the Orthodox faith naturally aligns with the decision’s conditions. Early expansion, consolidation of power in Anatolia, Greece and the Levant, and controlling the core de jure territories of the empire will make the later steps easier.
Managing Religion and Authority
Increasing your faith’s religious authority is essential. This usually means suppressing heresies, converting provinces to your faith, constructing religious buildings, and winning wars to enforce your faith’s dominance. Keep an eye on internal factions and vassals dissident religious lords or heretical movements can severely hamper your progress. Maintaining stability and a high religious authority score will open the decision when everything else is in place.
Securing the Key Holy Sites
One of the most timeconsuming tasks is controlling the five seats of the Pentarchy Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Jerusalem and Antioch. These territories often belong to other powerful rulers or require crusades, wars or diplomacy to acquire. An additional challenge is ensuring the holder of Constantinople’s bishopric is of your faith and not heretical. You might need to place trusted bishops or intervene directly in ecclesiastical politics. Once these sites are secured, your decision will become actionable.
Execution and Aftermath of the Decision
Once you click the Mend the Great Schism decision, several events unfold. If successful, the consequences are profound
- Your empire becomes the religious head of all Christendom uniting previously separate branches into a single church under your authority. contentReference[oaicite9]
- You gain considerable bonuses improved vassal opinions, greater control over church affairs, and often a massive prestige or piety boost.
- The global map changes other Christian rulers may realign under your religious authority and your rivals may suffer from reduced legitimacy or influence.
If you fail or postpone the decision, historians suggest you may simply miss the opportunity entirely if succession or your empire’s stability falters. Therefore, timing is critical. Ensuring your ruler lives long enough, managing heirs, and preventing major internal revolts is part of the strategic planning.
Challenges and Pitfalls to Watch
The path to Mend the Schism is fraught with potential pitfalls
- Succession crises If your ruler dies or you switch to an elective or junior vassal succession system, you may lose access to decisions or see your authority drop.
- Religious rebellions Heresy and schisms within your realm lower religious authority and delay your progress.
- External threats Crusades, Mongol invasions or aggressive neighbours can destabilize your empire and distract from religious goals.
- Decision glitches Some players report the decision disappearing entirely if certain conditions change or if the game version has bugs. contentReference[oaicite10]
Because of the length and complexity of the process, players should treat this as a longterm game objective, rather than a midgame target.
Why It’s So Rewarding
Completing the Mend the Great Schism decision is not just about achieving bonuses it is about creating a grand narrative. It allows you to reshape the religious map of medieval Europe, challenge the papacy, and become the spiritual as well as political powerhouse of Christendom. Many players describe the moment of success as one of the most satisfying in Crusader Kings II, especially after years of warfare, diplomacy and religious maneuvering. The united church under your empire can alter the way you approach vassals, holy wars and succession essentially changing the lategame dynamics in a major way.
The Mend the Great Schism decision in Crusader Kings II is a landmark achievement for ambitious players ready to combine diplomacy, warfare and faith into one cohesive strategy. From managing religious authority and conquering holy sites to surviving the long game of empire building, the journey is complex but ultimately rewarding. For those who succeed, their empire becomes more than a political entity it becomes the centre of Christian religious life in the game world. Whether you’re playing Byzantium, forging a restored Roman Empire or simply navigating crusades and church politics, aiming for the schismmending decision offers one of the grandest and most memorable arcs in medieval strategy gaming.